The threat of a wider Middle East conflict is growing as Washington keeps military action on the table and Tehran warns that another attack could trigger retaliation beyond conventional targets. US intelligence has also raised concerns about alleged Iranian plots against American officials.
BY PC Bureau
October 24: US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat of military action against Iran, suggesting Washington could launch another round of strikes unless Tehran agrees to a deal. Calling the prospect “a little Epic Fury”, Trump offered few details about what concessions he expects from Iran or what might trigger a new attack.
“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree. If they’re smart, they’ll just say, let’s get down to business,” Trump said at a Republican campaign rally in Florida.
His remarks underscore the uncertainty surrounding efforts to end the conflict, as Washington signals that diplomacy remains possible while keeping the threat of military force on the table.
“Operation Epic Fury”, the joint US-Israeli campaign launched in February, escalated into a prolonged war and killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family. Trump also invoked the earlier “Operation Midnight Hammer”, claiming it had destroyed Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and dealt a severe blow to its military and economy.
“We obliterated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer… We defeated them militarily, financially and otherwise, and now we are ensuring it’s done,” he said.
The latest warning came hours after Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, suggested in a podcast that another strike could take place “as soon as this weekend”. Barrack does not have a direct role in Iran policy, but said Trump remained open to a deal after months of negotiations.
Trump subsequently distanced himself from the suggestion, saying he knew of no such plan. “That was my ambassador? He’s a pretty powerful man, I guess,” he said.
President Trump hints at another potential US military strike on Iran, saying the US may launch another round of “Operation Epic Fury” if Tehran doesn’t agree to a deal.
“If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business.’ But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart.” https://t.co/QRXWnzpOza
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) October 23, 2026
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The president has repeatedly said he expects the conflict to end “soon”, either through an agreement or by other means. Speaking to a local Florida outlet, he said, “I see it ending one way or another, through agreement or otherwise.” He again framed preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as Washington’s central objective, saying, “I had to attack Iran, or they would have had a nuclear weapon.”
Tehran Warns of Wider Conflict
Tehran, meanwhile, has warned that a renewed attack could widen the confrontation beyond conventional military targets. An Iranian official told Reuters that Iran had drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if it came under further attack. The official also warned that repairs could be obstructed, potentially prolonging disruptions.
“If Iran is attacked, there will be no more red lines… from undersea cables to military bases, including covert ones. US should not play with fire,” the official said.
The warning raises the prospect of damage to critical communications infrastructure in a region central to global connectivity and energy networks. The official’s remarks did not establish that such action had been authorised or would necessarily be carried out.
Separately, US intelligence has warned of stepped-up Iranian efforts to target American officials, with some alleged lethal plots reportedly at an advanced stage. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the assessment in an unclassified memo dated October 23. The memo did not identify specific targets or locations.
The security concerns have coincided with a reduction in US diplomatic staffing across parts of the Middle East. In recent days, Washington has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy in Riyadh and consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, while reducing staffing at embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan.
With Trump keeping the possibility of fresh strikes open and Tehran warning of retaliation against a wider range of targets, the prospects for a negotiated settlement remain uncertain. The competing signals from Washington—an offer to reach a deal alongside renewed military threats—leave the region facing the risk of another escalation.
